I'm 81 and still working. It's not for the paycheck — it's part of my secret to aging well.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Sports
Mike Plummer
81-year-old Mike Plummer left corporate at 55 and has been working at a retail store for almost 15 years.

Jesse Brantman for BI

I decided to retire early in Guatemala. I'm only getting half my pension, but the lower cost of healthcare makes it worth it.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
A man standing in front of Mayan ruins in Guatemala.
Ron Podmore retired early and decided to do so in Guatemala.

Ron Podmore.

I spent a month in Malta to see if I might want to retire there. It seemed great on paper, but it wasn't a fit.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Author Louise Slyth smiling with glass of wine
I thought retiring in Malta was a great idea — but after a month there, I changed my mind

Louise Slyth

I'm 82 and earn $16 an hour working at a boat store. I don't have much saved and can't retire, but everything will work out.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Patricia Wheatley
Patricia Wheatley works for her friend's boat store, earning $16 an hour.

Nate Smallwood for BI

My father-in-law retired at 55 and is 87 now. His early retirement made me realize I don't want to travel the same road.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Travel
Author Melissa Noble smiling on a deck in front of her laptop
Retiring early is a dream for so many people (and a great reality for my father-in-law), but it's not something I'm hoping to do.

Melissa Noble

Weeks after my husband retired, he was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer. It was a reminder of why you shouldn't wait to live fully.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Travel
The author with her family in their pool.
The author's husband was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer just weeks after he retired.

Courtesy of Christina Daves

Starting a business in your 80s isn't easy — but it may be the only way to earn a living

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Style
Ina Harris, 82
Ina Harris, 82, opened a direct care business last year and has slowly been securing clients.

Corrie Aune for BI

Ina Harris, 82, believes that starting a business is the only way she can earn enough to pay her bills.

I'm 61 and scared to retire. I have $650,000 saved but wish I had more — I should've gotten into real estate sooner.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
a man in a desert
Dan Steven Erickson.

Chris Otten

My 14-year-old picked up investing tips online. With a financial planner's help, he's now saving for his retirement.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports

The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

I'll probably never fully retire, and I'm not sad about it

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Overhead view of man working from home at a desk.
The author (not pictured) is 38 and doesn't think he will ever fully retire.

Maskot/Getty Images/Maskot

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